Lock



May 21, 1940. E, w, NORTH 2,201,957

- LOCK Filed June 27, 1938 INVENTOR.

17/5 ATTORN Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES LOCK Edwin W. North,Rockford, Ill., assignor to National Lock Go, Rockford, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application ,lune 27, 1938, Serial No. 215,958

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in locks and the like and has forone of its principal objects the provision of a key-operated lock ofgeneral application and particularly suited for use with closures onlockers and various kinds of utility cabinets, the lock being furthercharacterized by simple, rugged construction with relatively few workingparts, and adapted to be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

Viewed from another aspect, it is an object of the invention to providean improved lock having a mounting escutcheon attachable to a closureand a key-operated handle member rotatable in the escutcheon and stopmeans for limiting the movement of the handle in opposite directionsbetween predetermined limits.

Another object is the provision of a lock including a handle rotatablein a mounting escutcheon and stop means carried by the handle andmovable between opposite limits in a slot formed in the escutcheon tolimit turning movement of the handle, there being in addition akey-operated latch bolt movable transversely of the handle shank in theescutcheon and constructed and 25 arranged with relation to the stopmeans so that the handle may be latched in either of two oppositepositions notwitstanding the limiting movement of the stop means.

Another object is the provision in a lock of an to improvedclosure-operating or locking member and means for removably mounting thesame on the shank of the handle.

Other objects and novel aspects of the invention reside in certaindetails of construction and operation of the lock structure hereinafterspecifically described in view of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete lock assembly;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section as seen along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken transversely of the handleand escutcheon along line 33 of Fig. 2; while Fig. 4 is a verticaltransverse section looking oppositely from Fig. 3 and in the directionof line l of Fig. 2.

It will be understood that the specific lock structure describedhereinafter has been selected an illustrative embodiment of theinvention, and that other forms of construction and modes of operationof the invention may be achieved for accomplishing the various objectsand advantages thereof without departing from the spirit and scope ofsuch invention, particularly as the Ill) same will be defined in theclaims appended hereto.

A preferred form of the lock includes (Fig. 1) an escutcheon it ofsubstantially annular shape and having an annular shoulder portion l Iadapted to fit against a closure, and a threaded tubular shank l2 whichprojects through an opening prepared in the closure i4 (shown in dottedlines in Fig. 2) and upon which there is threaded a collar nut 53 whichsecures the escutcheon in place, the closure in this instance being arelatively thin metal locker door. Obviously, the threaded tubular shankl2 may be provided in any length necessary for mounting on any thicknessof door.

A handle member I8 having a somewhat conical tapered shank I9 isprovided with an annular shoulder it which fits into a recess in theescutcheon, there being an edge 2! provided in the latter as a seat forthe shoulder 20, the stem portion it also having a flange 22 at thejuncture of the same with the shoulder 20 and adapted to ride on theouter periphery of the escutcheon when the handle is turned.

A cylindrical shank 23 extends co-axially of the handle from theshoulder 2i] and turns in the tubular portion of the escutcheon, therebeing a square stud 24 projecting from the end of the shank to provide aseat and attaching means for a closure latch or latch-operating memberhereinafter to be described.

The lock mechanism itself may be of any suitable form, for example thefamiliar pin tumbler cylinder lock 28 illustrated in dotted lines inFig. 2 and adapted to be released for turning movement by a key 29insertable in a suitable key slot in the head of the handle.

The lock cylinder 28 may be turned by a proper key and is providedadjacent its inner extremity with an eccentric pin 30 which Works in aslot 3| provided in a lock bolt 32 arranged for sliding movementtransversely of the long axis of the handle in the shank portion thereof(Figs. 2 and 3).

When the key cylinder 28 is properly turned to unlocked position, thebolt 32 is Withdrawn into the shank of the handle so that its oppositeextremitiesincluding the latching nose 33 thereof and the opposite end34, are at most flush with the outer periphery of the shank. Stated inother terms when the lock is open, the bolt 32 is shifted transverselyinto the shank so that it lies in wholly unobstructing relation to theescutcheon or mounting means for the handle, the handle, therefore,being freely movable relative to its. mounting.

iii)

When the key cylinder is properly turned to locked position, the bolt 32will be shifted transversely to project its nose 33 into a bolt slot 35(Figs. 3 and 4) provided on the inner periphery of the escutcheonsleeve, the handle thus being securely latched against rotativemovement.

A principal feature of the invention is the provision of means forlimiting the rotative movement of the handle 18 in opposite directionswhen the same is unlocked, this means including a stop pin or means 38(Figs. 2, 3, 4) Which projects radially from the shank 23 for movementin an arcuate stop pin slot 39 which extends through an are which ispreferably about 90 degrees in extent on the inner periphery of theescutcheon sleeve and which is offset or spaced away in acircumferential sense from the latch bolt slot 35.

It will be apparent that the stop pin 38 working in the slot 39 in theillustrative embodiment of Fig. 3 will limit the rotative movement ofthe handle [8 to a displacement of approximately 90 degrees or a quarterturn. Other degrees of displacement may be provided.

Another novel aspect of the invention is the arrangement whereby thelatch bolt is so positioned and designed with respect to the stop means3839 that the handle may be locked in either one of two extremepositions approximately a quarter-turn apart. This is made possible bythe relative dimensioning and placement of the parts concerned,particularly the circumferential displacement of the latch slot 35 withrespect to the stop pin slot 39.

An examination of Fig. 3, for example, will disclose that if the shank23 is turned to the right until the stop pin 38 abuts the lowerextremityof the slot 39, the nose portion 33 of the latch bolt 32 will be moved acorresponding disstance away from the slot 35 until it is substantiallyopposite the upper and left-hand extremity 39' of the slot 39, and ifthe lock tumbler then is turned to locked position, the nose 33 willproject into the portion 39 of the stopping pin slot 39 and the handlewill then be latched against movement toward the left (Fig. 3) by thebolt 32, and toward the right by the stop pin 38.

On the other hand, if it is desired to lock the handle in a position aquarter turn away from the position previously described, the bolt nose33 will project into the slot 35 and serve to latch the handle againstturning movement in either direction. It will be observed that the stoppin 38 will also function under the latter conditions to preventmovement of the handle toward the left, in addition to the limitingoperation of the bolt.

Another feature of novelty in the improved lock structure resides in theprovision of a closure latch in the form of an arm having a centrallylocated square opening 46 adapted to fit over the squared stud 24 so asto turn with the handle, there being an outwardly projecting latch arm41 integral with the main arm and of any form suitable for latchingengagement with a stationary latch keeper such as indicated in dottedlines by the locker margins 48 adjoining the door I4. The locking arm 41may also be utilized to actuate a bolt lever system frequently used onlocker closures and the like.

The main arm portion 45 extends transversely of the latch handle at itsinner end and is provided with a pair of lateral studs 50 near its outerextremities.

An elongated bridle strap 5| is provided with a centrally disposedsquared opening which fits onto the squared stud 24 against the latchingmember 45, the strap having its opposite end portions 52 ofiset toprovide feet which abut the extremities of the pins 50 and constitute arigidifying means for the locking member 45. The median portion of thebridle strap 5| in the region of the stud 24 is bowed outwardly somewhatto provide a bearing against a cotter pin 53 or other securing meansextended transversely through the stud portion 24 to hold the assemblyin place.

It will be apparent that the improved lock may be readily mounted anddismounted from a closure, it being merely necessary to provide anopening through which the threaded sleeve portion l2 may be inserted,and thereafter to apply the collar nut l3, the closure latching member45 being slipped over the stud 24 and the bridle strap being applied onthe stud following the closure of the latch, and the pin means 53 beingworking in a slot in the escutcheon or mounting means in such manner asto limit the rotative movement of the handle in opposite directions,preferably, though not necessarily, about a quarter of a turn, and thelatch bolt and stop means being so arranged with respect to each otherand the mounting means that the handle may be latched in either one ofits extreme positions as limited by the stop means.

The appended claims, therefore, are not to be restricted to any precisedetails of structure recited herein but are to include all equivalentforms, means, and modes of operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lock, a mounting, a spindle arranged to turn in they mounting, alock bolt arranged for radial movement in the spindle, mechanismarranged relative to said spindle for radially moving said bolt, astopping member projecting radially of said spindle in predeterminedcircumferentially spaced relation to said bolt, stopping formationsarranged in said mounting adjacent the periphery of said spindle alongthe path of movement of said stopping member and bolt, said stoppingformations being circumierentially spaced the aforesaid predeterminedamount and engaged by said stopping member when the spindle is turned inopposite directions said amount to limit movement of the spindle, saidbolt and stopping member being respectively positioned opposite one ofsaid stopping formations when the spindle is in a predetermined positionto lock the same against movement.

2. A lock including a handle, an escutcheon mounting said handle forrotative movement on a closure or the like, a latch bolt arranged formovement radially into and out of said handle in said escutcheon, saidescutcheon having a latch bolt receiving formation interiorly thereofand a stop pin slot spaced therefrom in a direction of rotation of thehandle, a stop pin projected radially of said handle into said stop pinslot, said stop pin being spaced in the direction of rotation of saidhandle a predetermined distance away from said latch bolt, lock means insaid handle for actuating said latch bolt, said stop pin limitingturning movement of said handle, and said latch bolt being operable tolock said handle either by engagement in the aforesaid latch boltreceiving formation when said handle is in one of its extreme positions,or by movement into said stop pin slot when said handle is in the otherextreme position.

3. A lock including a handle having a substantially cylindrical shank, amounting sleeve for said handle and having said shank portion rotativelydisposed therein, a latch bolt arranged for movement radially into andout of said handle in said mounting sleeve for engagement in a boltreceiving slot in the latter, said mounting sleeve having a stop pinslot extending in the direction of rotative movement of the handle andshank, said slot being spaced a fraction of a complete turn away fromsaid bolt receiving slot and being of a length substantially equivalentto the same fraction of a turn, a stop pin projecting from said shank onthe handle into said stop pin slot and effective to engage the oppositeextremities of the latter slot to limit the turning movement of saidhandle a distance equivalent to said fraction of a turn, said latch boltbeing engageable in said bolt receiving slot when said stop pin is atone extremity of said stop pin slot, said bolt being latchingly engagedin said stop pin slot when said stop pin is at the opposite extremitythereof.

4. In a look, a handle member arranged to turn in a mounting, a lockbolt arranged for movement radially in the handle member into and out oflocking engagement in a bolt-receiving formation in said mounting, astopping member displaced circumferentially away from said bolt on saidhandle member, means providing circumferentially spaced stoppingformations in said mounting for engagement by said stopping member whenthe handle is turned in opposite directions and spaced from saidbolt-receiving formation in a direction of turning movement of thehandle memberwhereby the bolt may be locked in said receiving formationwhen the handle is turned into a particular position or the bolt andstopping member upon projection of the bolt may be lockingly engagedwith said stopping formations when the handle is turned into a differentposition, and mechanism carried by said handle member for actuating saidbolt.

5. In a lock of the type having a handle member mounted for rotativemovement in a mounting and a radially projecting locking bolt enageablewith a locking formation on said mounting, the combination of meansiorlimiting movement of said handle member and comprising a steppingmember projecting radially of the handie member and spaced away from thebolt in the direction of turning motion of the handle member, saidstopping member engaging oppospaced stepping members disposed on saidmounting and spaced relative to said locking formation in one directionof rotation of the handie member whereby the latter may be locked eitherby engagement of the bolt with the locking formation when the handlemember is in a certain position or by joint stopping engagement of saidstopping member and bolt with said stopping members on the mounting uponprojection of the bolt when the handle member is in a differentposition, and lock mechanism carried by said handle member for actuatingsaid bolt.

6. In a look, a mounting and a handle arranged for rotative movementtherein, a lock bolt carried by said handle and arranged for radialmovement into and out of locking engagement with a bolt-receivingformation in said mounting, a stop pin projecting radially of saidhandle and displaced 90 degrees away from the bolt, an elongatedpinereceiving slot being provided in said mounting with one of its endsdisplaced 90 degrees from said bolt-receiving formation and an oppositeend displaced 180 degrees from said bolt-receiving formation and inwhich said stopping pin moves responsive to turning movement of thehandle, said bolt being arranged to project into said pin-receiving slotfor locking abutment with one end of the same when said stopping pin isdisposed at the opposite end thereof, whereby to lock said handle in acertain position, said bolt being lockingly engageable with saidbolt-receiving formation to lock the handle in a difierent position.

EDWIN W. NORTH.

